In addition to suppressing wildfires, wildland firefighters must do their best to keep themselves and all their equipment safe. Wearing a backpack is the best way to do this, but you can’t use just any backpack. Instead, you need to know what to look for when choosing a comfortable fire line backpack that protects you and your equipment from the extreme heat.
Personal Preference
Safety and storage capabilities are some of the most important qualities you must consider when shopping for a fire line backpack, but personal preference trumps everything. You should never compromise your safety to ensure you’re comfortable, but you should still consider comfort. You don’t want to go out into the field with the safest backpack possible only to realize it’s uncomfortable and you cannot do your job as efficiently. Wildland firefighting only becomes more difficult without comfortable gear.
Overall Convenience
We’ve established that you should consider personal preference, and convenience is one variable that makes fire line backpacks more appealing to some firefighters. Some backpacks lack versatility, but you’ll need to bring the entire backpack everywhere. Other types have detachable components like a day pack.
Many firefighters prefer these kinds of fire line backpacks because they can carry all their equipment with them. Instead of hauling it everywhere, they can detach the day pack. It’s a great way to keep equipment in an easy-to-reach location, and they can take what’s most necessary instead of bringing everything all the time.
Storage Capabilities
Wearing a detachable day pack will keep you comfortable when venturing into the field. However, it’s not as useful if the fire line backpack has issues holding your equipment. Finding a fire line backpack with the right storage capabilities is crucial. You can’t leave important equipment behind, even if your bag is too small. Instead, you’d need to carry things separately or bring an extra bag, which is inefficient. If you want to be safe, comfortable, and efficient when containing a wildfire, you need a fire line backpack that’s durable and sizable. Anything less will lead to issues on the job.
It’s important to know what to look for when choosing a fire line backpack so you get one that keeps you and your equipment safe in even the worst situations. Your gear’s quality is important, which is why you need to shop from a reputable fire supply store. Be sure to do all your shopping with us at The Supply Cache. We’ll help you find the reliable wildland fire pack you need to be safe and comfortable the next time you’re in the field.